Architecture Conservation

AR 751
Year Iv Part Ii

Sanjaya Maharjan

Lecture 11: The World Heritage Convention and the World Heritage
Committee
 World Heritage Convention and World Heritage Committee

Also known as the convention concerning the protection of World Cultural

and Natural heritage, >> was adopted by conference of UNESCO in Paris in
its 17th session, 1972.
Implemented by World Heritage Committee (WHC) with the assistance of
UNESCO Secretariat and World Heritage Center.
For this, WHC prepares the decision for the Committee with the
mobilization of the Chairperson, the Vice- Chairperson and the reporter.
In a meeting that take place every year, they essentially concentrate on:
• The identification of the sites of the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV)
from among the ones nominated by the government for listing them in the
World Heritage List (WHL).
• Deciding, which sites should be put in the List of World Heritage Site
(WHS) or in Danger.
• Find ways and means by which the State Parties can make use of World
Heritage Fund (WHF).
 Nepal and World Heritage Convention

The Convention related the protection of World Cultural and Natural

heritage, was adopted by conference of UNESCO in Paris in its 17th
session, 1972.

By the year 2001, 149 countries were signatories to the convention.

>> On 20th June, 1978, HMG ratified this convention.
>> Later a request was made by the Nepal Govt. to UNESCO
>> in order to help the DOA so that preparation could be made
towards the nomination of the Kathmandu Valley for the
inscription on the WHL.
 Nepal and World Heritage Convention

The request was for one single Site containing seven Monuments
Zones
>> Such as Palace Squares of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur,
>> two Buddhist religious spots of Swayambhu Chaitya and Boudhanath
Stupa,
>> the Hindu Sites of Pashupati Nath and the Hill top sanctuary of Changu
Narayan.
DOA submitted the nomination for the inscription on the WHL at
world heritage committee on 25th May, 1979. >> done in consideration
of areas of OUV. >> nomination was accepted by 3rd conference of
world heritage committee, Luxor, Egypt in October 1979.
In this 21st meeting of World Heritage Committee, Lumbini, the
birthplace of Buddha was also included in the WHS list.
 State of WHS in Nepal
Immediately after the inscription of Kathmandu in the WHL, a
UNESCO International Safeguarding Campaign for the Kathmandu
Valley was established.

In the following years UNESCO made a very significant contribution

towards the enhancement of the Monuments, the most important of
which is the Hanuman Dhoka Restoration Project.
>> This was part of the preparation of the coronation of then King
Birendra.

By this time an inventory covering 900 individual monuments, 3

monument zones and 29 natural preservation districts had
already been prepared >> in collaboration with Austrian Govt.
State of WHS in Nepal

A master plan was also prepared with support of UNESCO

at the request of DOA.
• UNESCO again published a book entitled Kathmandu Valley:
Nepalese historic monuments in need of preservation.
• At this juncture, UNESCO underwent a policy shift towards
WHS because they had started to face threat from modern
construction.
• Consequently, a Campaign Technical Advisor was appointed to
ensure that WHS does not get adversely affected.
>> endorsed by 25th general conference.
>> soon after this the 1st meeting of working group was also
held.
 Placement in the list of WHS in Danger

The state of WHS did not change significantly by the time there was
the meeting of the 2nd working group later in 1991. >> cause of great
worry.
One could, however, draw comfort from the establishment of Nepal/
UNESCO/ Japan Trust for the conservation of selected monuments
of the Patan Durbar Square which contributed US $376,300.
The worry expressed by the 2nd working group was not imaginary,
>> because, the ICOMOS International Wood Committee voiced
similar concerns.
 Placement in the list of WHS in Danger
As a result, a Joint UNESCO/ REVIEW mission visited Kathmandu.
>> recommended for the placement of Kathmandu Valley World Heritage on
the List of World Heritage in Danger for the period of one to three years
until the sixteen condition put forward by the Mission were fulfilled.

The sixteen conditions consisted of:

1) The need of the amendment of the Ancient Monument Preservation Act in
consonance with the Convention concerning the protection of the world Cultural
and Natural heritage and its guidelines.
2) Reconsideration and Redefinition of the monuments zones, their Gazetting
according to the provision of Nepal legislation, display of the notice as required
by the World heritage Convention, physical definition of the Monument Zones
by the stone markers.
3) Gazetting of the monuments listed in the nomination, accepted by the World
Heritage Committee in 1979 and the Detailed Inventories of the World
Heritage in additive sections.
 Placement in the list of WHS in Danger

4) Preparation of a detailed master plan of the Monument Zones, definition of

the responsibilities for conservation and restoration activities, strengthening of
the DOA in its administrative, technical and professional activities especially
with regard to its monitoring activities, definition of the role of the three
municipalities of Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur.
5) Preparation of the documentation of all houses and street elevation within the
Monuments Zones.
6) No rights for the demolition of the structures without the permission of the
DOA and the Preparation of funding mechanism by the concerned authority
to support the conservation of private but historic properties with innovative
measures as tax exemptions.
7) Achievement of high standard of quality in the conservation of individual
monuments, discouragement of demolition and reconstruction in favor of repair
in situ with minimal dismantling, rejection of projects by the DOA of projects
favoring demolition and rebuilding of beautification instead of the conservation
of historic fabrics.
 Placement in the list of WHS in Danger

8) Adoption of new estimate and rate analysis for the conservation applicable
to the use of traditional materials.
9) Prevention of the use of cement mortar where mortar is to be used.
10) Full implementation of the Ancient monument Preservation Act in co-
operation with relevant enforcement authorities with regard to monitoring and
design control by DOA.
11) Implementation of the provision of the Ancient Monument Preservation
Act with regard to the demolition of illegally erected structures with the
Monument Zones without allowing the alternative of paying a fine for such
illegal construction.
12) Removal of visual obstruction such as overhead electric transmission lines and
transformers by having underground system.
13) Restriction of public and commercial advertisements.
14) Maintenance of the Restriction of vehicular traffic inside Monument Zones.
Exclusion from the list of Danger

• The recommendations to put the Kathmandu WHS in the list of

the WHS in Danger was tabled in the 17th Session of the World
heritage Committee held in 1993.

• But the Committee did not accept it in view of the assurance

given by HMG about the implementation of the sixteen point
recommendation.
 Implementation of Recommendation

• A resident UNESCO Technical Advisor was appointed in 5th

October, 1995.
• There was again a policy shift from direct raising of funds
towards the building of the local capacity. >> following this,
Development Control Unit (DCU) was set up in DOA.
• In following year, in 1996, the fifth amendment of the Ancient
Preservation Act was passed into law.
• Though the DCU, could not be given continuity, Heritage
Conservation Unit with adequate number of staffs was set up in
the DOA.
• More noteworthy was the creation of Heritage Units in three
municipalities.
 Visit of the Joint Mission in the year 1999

• The meeting of WHC was held in Italy at Naples in 1997, >>

Nepal had also attended this meeting, >> on request of Nepali
team, a decision was taken to send a Joint Mission Team consisting
of the representatives of UNESCO, ICOMOS and HMG of Nepal
for the review and the monitoring of the WHS in Nepal.
• The mission visited in the year 1999 and submitted a detailed
report after studying all the WHS with respect to their conservation
and the new construction in periphery.
• It made a time bound 55 points recommendations including the 16
point recommendations made by the earlier team.
• Some of them were policy recommendation applicable to all the
monument zones while others were specific recommendations for
the individual monument zones.
 Visit of the Joint Mission in the year 1999

• Some of the general recommendations were:

i. Control of the demolition of the historic buildings and
enforcement of the bye laws in the monument zones of WHS.
ii. Resolution of the problem of combined responsibility of the
different institutions and the identification of one single
institution to be held responsible.
iii. Setting up of a fund for the preservation of the Ancient
Monument.
iv. Conduction of the program for raising the awareness about
the importance of World Heritage.
v. Availability of timber in subsidized rate for the use in the
conservation of historic buildings in the monument zones.
 UNESCO High Level Mission in the year 2000

• The 23rd meeting of WHC held in Morocco in 1999 postponed till

another meeting the subject of inclusion of the Kathmandu WHS in
danger.
• In order to apprise with the issue raised by the Committee to the
Nepal Govt. >> the committee recommended for sending a High
Level Mission to Nepal.
• A six member team led by World Heritage Chairman visited
Kathmandu in between 24th to 28th September, 2000. >> the
Mission met several high placed authorities of HMG. >> They were
also granted audience by then King Birendra.
• While the Mission were very determined to put the Kathmandu Site
in the Danger List, the Government of Nepal while pointing out at
all progress achieved till then requested to the contrary.
 Visit of Inspection Team

• UNESCO had sent a High Level Mission to inspect the WHS in

February, 2003.
• A three member Mission led by Tamas Sejerdy, Chairperson of
WHC, consisting of Franscesco Bendarin, Director of UNESCO
World Heritage Center and Remond Bondin, UNESCO expert
visited all seven monument zones forming the WHS.
• Whilst the team was very happy with the initiative taken by the
Bhaktapur Municipality, >> the Mission concerned by the
development taking place in the neighborhood of Boudhanath. >>
like, the monastery of Guru Lakhang, also known as Chuk
Khakhang Gumba was constructed using inappropriate materials
like concrete and steel though DOA had permitted for the design
of a traditional simple monastery that suits the setting of the Stupa
courtyard.
Visit of Inspection Team

• Chairman Mr. Sejerdy said that the monuments of Bouddha

itself is in good condition and added that it would have been
better if the newly constructed houses were of traditional set up.

• The Mission submitted its report within May to June, 2003.

• UNESCO has warned that the Site may be put in the Danger
List if the illegal construction are not stopped by the year 2002.
“ thank you”